Potato-bug catcher.



W. M. LEWIS.

, POTATO BUG GATCHBB. APPLIOATION rum) 110v. 15. 1909.

. 999 1 72 Patented July 25, 1911.

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W. M. LEWIS.

POTATO BUG OATOHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.15, 1909.

999,172 I Patented July25, 19l-1.

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W. M. LEWIS.

POTATO BUG GATGHER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.15, 1909.

999,172. Patented July 25, 1911.

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UNITE STAES PATN T CFFTCE.

WILLIAM 1VL LEWIS, OF NEW HARTFORD, IOWA.

POTATO-BUG CATCHER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, IVILLIAM M. LEWIS, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Hartford, in the county of Butler and State of Iowa,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in PotatoBug Catchers,of which the following is a specification.

This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements inpotato bug catchers.

The object of my invention is to provide a light, simply constructedpositively operating machine arranged to be drawn through a potato patchor field, and provided with a beater by means of which such bugs as maybe feeding upon the vines will be beaten into a suitable receptacle.

\Vith the above and other objects in view, the present inventionconsists in the combination and arrangement of parts as will behereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in theappended claim, it being understood that changes in the specificstructure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claimwithoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which likenumerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views,Figure 1 shows a top view of a machine embodying my invention, Fig. 2shows a side view, Fig. 3 shows a rear end view, Fig. 4 shows a bottomview.

In carrying out the aim of my invention, I employ a crank axle 5 uponthe spindles 6 of which are carried the supporting wheels 7. One ofthese supporting wheels is provided with a driving gear 8. Secured tothis crank axle 5 are two similar frame members preferably made of angleiron comprising the horizontally and parallel held rear portions 8 andthe forward obliquely held end port-ions 9, these end portions beingunited and provided with the flanges 10 between which is secured thetongue 11. The draft animals are secured to this tongue 11. Connectingthe parallel portions 8' of these frame members is the preferably ironbar 12 which serves as a support for the drivers seat 13. Secured to oneof the frame members is a supporting plate 15 having a bearing openingwithin which is held the vertically disposed driving shaft 16 which atits lower end is revolubly held within the bracket 17, this bracket alsobeing carried Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 15, 1909.

Patented July 25, 1911.

Serial No. 528,214.

by the supporting plate 15. Secured to the lower end of this drive shaft16 is the driven gear 18 in mesh with the drive gear 8, while at theupper end of this driving shaft is secured the chain sprocket 20, belowwhich is secured the supporting collar 21 to properly hold this drivingshaft.

Securely fixed to the supporting plate 15 by means of the ear plate 22,is the guide bar 23 bent in the form of a right angle, and slidably heldupon this guide bar 23 is a frame com arising the two parallel heldmembers 25 anc 26. These members are strengthened by means of the bracebar 27 containing a bearing while the rear portion 28 of this frame isalso provided with a bearing, and held within these bearings is thepinion shaft 29 which at its rear end carries the pinion 30 held againstthe transverse member 27 as shown. This frame freely slides upon thevertical portion of the guide bar.

Vertically held within bearings located within the ends of the framemembers 25 and 26, is the driven shaft 33, which at its lower endcarries a pinion 34 suitably secured thereto and meshing with the pinion30, while at the upper end is secured the chain sprocket 35. Connectingthe chain sprockets 20 and 35, is the chain 36.

Secured to the lower end of the guide bar 23 is the stop collar 38limiting the downward movement of the slidably held frame as disclosed.Secured to the upper portion of the frame member 26 is the eye 37 within which is hooked the lower end of the supporting rod 40, the upper endof which is pivotally secured to the adjusting lever 41.

Secured to one end of the supporting plate 15 is the upstanding ear 42carrying the pin 43 and pivotally held upon this pin 43 is the adjustinglever 41. The pin 43 also passes through the rack segment 45, theadjusting lever 41 being provided with the pawl 46 working in connectionwith this rack segment, this pawl being operated by the latch 47 as isusual in devices of this class. By means of this lever 41, the framecarrying the pinions 34 and 30 may be raised or lowered, the pinion 34being splined to and sliding upon the shaft 33. Extending from the framemember carrying the supporting plate 15 is the ear 48 within which isjournaled the upper end of the driven shaft 33, which is held againstvertical motion by collars, as shown.

Secured to the forward end of the shaft 29 is the beater 4E9, located atthe forward end of the slidably held frame.

Secured to the forward end of the frame is a hanger in the form of a barcomprising the horizontal portion 50, the vertical portion 51 and endingin the crank 52 provided with a collar 53. Pivotally held upon thiscrank portion 52 is the forward bent end 55 of the supporting rod 56which carries the receptacle 57. This bar 56 is pivotally held upon thecrank 52. Secured to the rear end. of this bar 56 is the chain 59 whichat its upper end is arranged to engage the hooked end 60 of the springbracket 61 secured to the frame as disclosed. By this means thereceptacle is yieldingly suspended, in such a manner that the same maybe raised or lowered by means of the chain, the links of which areadjustably engaged within the hook 60. Extending upward from thereceptacle 57 is the curved shield 66, and the beater 4:9 is arranged torevolve proximal to this receptacle 5?.

The operation of my device is very simple. As the machine is draggedthrough the field, the driving gear 8 is rotated, resulting in thedriven shaft 16 being rotated, and this shaft in turn by means of thechain sprocket 20 act'ua'tes the chain 36 and thereby the connecteddriven shaft 33. The pinion 3a of the shaft 33 being in mesh with thepinion 30 upon the beater shaft 29 rotates the beater 49. As shown inthe rear View, there is a considerable space between the receptacle 57and the carrying frame 25. As the beater 49 rotates, it strikes thepotato vines and beats the potato bugs and beetles against the shield 66and into the receptacle 57, which may contain a suitable liquidcalculated to kill the beetles dropping into the receptacle.

The machine is simple and comparatively inexpensive in construction, andboth durable and efiicient in operation.

What is claimed is:

A machine for destroying potato bugs comprising a wheeled frame, adriving gear on one of the wheels of the frame, a vertical shaft mountedon the frame adjacent said wheel, a gear mounted on the lower end ofsaid shaft and meshing with the first named gear, a sprocket wheel onthe upper end of said vertical shaft, a sliding frame mounted in thewheeled frame, a vertical shaft journaled in said sliding frame, asprocket wheel on the upper end of said shaft, a chain passing aroundsaid sprocket wheels, a horizontally disposed beater shaft journaled insaid sliding frame, a gear on the lower end of the second named verticalshaft,a gear on one end of said heater shaft and meshing with the lastnamed gear, a guide bar for said sliding frame, an adjustably held barto support the sliding bar, a receptacle supported on the frame, and acurved shield ext-ending upwardly from said receptacle.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

VILLIAM M. LEWIS.

lVitnesses H. B. BIosnY, M. G. FARNswoRTH.

Copies of this patent may b obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

